QISP Training Program FAQs - California

The California Stormwater Industrial General Permit (IGP) glossary defines a Qualified Industrial Stormwater Practitioner (QISP) as:

"Only required once a Discharger reaches Level 1 status, a QISP is the individual assigned to ensure compliance with this General Permit or to assist New Dischargers with determining coverage eligibility for discharges to an impaired water body. A QISP's responsibilities include implementing the SWPPP, performing the Annual Comprehensive Facility Compliance Evaluation (Annual Evaluation), assisting in the preparation of Annual Reports, performing ERAs, and training appropriate Pollution Prevention Team members. The individual must take the appropriate State-approved or sponsored training to be qualified. Dischargers shall ensure that the designated QISP is geographically located in an area where they will be able to adequately perform the permit requirements at all of the facilities they represent."

Purposes Identified by the IGP for having QISPs

To improve compliance and maintain consistent implementation of the IGP (Finding #49); To assist the Discharger and other on-site personnel with the implementation of IGP requirements (Finding #50); To have a high degree of technical knowledge and environmental experience in the assistance given to Dischargers (Fact Sheet p. 6); To improve the quality of the data submitted (Fact Sheet p. 20); and To avoid costly retrofits or closure of new facilities that cannot demonstrate that the facility will not cause or contribute to a 303(d) impairment

(Fact Sheet p. 26).

Ten QISP Roles According to the IGP

1. May represent one or more facilities but must be able to perform the functions required by the IGP at all times (Fact Sheet p. 28).

2. Assigned to a facility that reaches Level 1 and Level 2 status (Fact Sheet p. 48).

3. More accurately identify discharge locations representative of the facility's stormwater discharge (Fact Sheet p. 48).

4. Select and implement appropriate sampling procedures (Fact Sheet p. 48).

5. Evaluate and develop additional BMPs to reduce or prevent pollutants in industrial stormwater discharges (Fact Sheet p. 48).

6. Assist with the completion of the Level 1 Evaluation and preparation of the Level 1 ERA Report (Fact Sheet p. 61).

7. Assist with the completion of the Level 2 ERA requirements and the preparation of the Level 2 Action Plan & Level 2 Technical Reports (Fact Sheet p. 62).

8. Assist New Dischargers in preparing the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and monitoring program in addition to gaining coverage for New Dischargers that discharge directly to an impaired water body (Order p. 22).

9. Provide training to "appropriate team members" for Level 1 facilities (Order p. 23 & 33).

10. Be informed, responsible, and attentive to the required duties of a QISP while keeping the QISP registration in good standing with the State Water Board and the California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) (Fact Sheet p. 28).

Becoming a QISP

Sign up for the QISP Training Program by going to the California State University, Sacramento Office of Water Programs (OWP) website at owp.csus.edu.

After creating an account, click Stormwater Certificates, then IGP QISP. The website guides you through the process of completing the QISP Training Program.

QISP Training Program FAQs

Are there prerequisites or underlying certifications required to be a QISP?

There are no formal prerequisites to be a QISP. There is, however, a practical prerequisite. The material presented in the QISP Training Program was developed for QISP candidates who have basic knowledge of stormwater principles, working knowledge of the IGP, and experience implementing industrial stormwater compliance. This program is not designed for a "Stormwater 101" audience.

How much time is a QISP candidate allowed to complete the QISP Training Program?

The training program must be completed within one year of the initial registration date. If your registration expires before you complete all steps in the program, you would need to re-register and restart the QISP Training Program.

More QISP Training Program FAQs

How do I become a QISP?

To become a QISP, candidates must complete the online training; pass a midterm exam; attend a oneday, in-person class; and pass a final exam.

How long will the online training take?

On average it takes 16 hours to complete the self-study online training material. This consists of videos, site scenarios, readings from the IGP, information from the CASQA Industrial and Commercial BMP Online Handbook, and quizzes.

How many attempts does a QISP candidate have to pass the midterm and final exams?

The QISP candidate is allowed to take each exam twice. If the candidate does not pass the midterm exam in two attempts, the candidate must pay to re-register and retake the online training.

If the candidate does not pass the final exam in two attempts, the candidate must pay to re-register, retake the online training, complete the midterm with a passing grade, and attend another one-day, in-person class before re-attempting the final exam. A separate fee may be charged for each class attended.

How do I register for an in-person IGP Trainer of Record (ToR) class?

After passing the midterm, the QISP candidate needs to attend a one-day in-person class with a IGP ToR. Register for a class by visiting the training calendar in the Stormwater Certificates portal at owp.csus.edu. A separate fee is charged for this class by the IGP ToR, who will provide payment instruction. When you complete the class, the IGP ToR records your pass/fail in the system. Candidates who pass the class are eligible to take the final exam.

Note that IGP ToRs are required to verify the identity of QISP candidates and their attendance for the completion of the one-day, in-person class. QISP candidates must be attentive during class.

Do California-registered Professional Engineers and Geologists need to take this training?

California licensed professional civil, industrial, chemical, and mechanical engineers and geologists have licenses that have professional overlap with topics in the Industrial General Permit. The California Department of Consumer Affairs, Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists (CBPELSG) provides the licensure and regulation of professional civil, industrial, chemical, and mechanical engineers and professional geologists in California. The State Water Board developed a specialized self-guided State Water Board-sponsored registration and training program specifically for these CPBELSG licensed engineers and geologists in good standing with CBPELSG. To complete the training and self-certification, create an account on the Office of Water Programs website at owp.csus.edu. Click Stormwater Certificates then click IGP CBPELSG.

What is required to renew the QISP training registration?

The State Water Board, CASQA, and IGP Training Team have not yet determined what is required to renew the QISP training registration. More information will be provided as the date approaches.

What if a QISP Candidate has a disability, such as hearing impairment, that requires special accommodations to access online class material in the QISP Training Program?

To request online training accommodations, contact Office of Water Programs by email at wateroffice@owp.csus.edu or by phone at (916) 278-6142. Please plan ahead to give yourself adequate time to coordinate your accommodation needs with the Office of Water Programs and to complete your QISP training.

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